Guilty plea entered in case involving threats at Leavenworth Kmart

A Leavenworth resident has pleaded guilty to charges related to an incident in which he threatened to kill customers and workers at the Leavenworth Kmart.

Oliver Gillom Jr., 26, pled guilty Wednesday in Leavenworth County District Court to charges of aggravated assault, criminal threat, felony fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer and criminal use of a firearm, according to County Attorney Todd Thompson’s office.

The charges arose from a May 22 incident at Kmart, Thompson’s office said, in which Gillom carried a concealed handgun into the store and made statements over the store’s intercom that he was going to kill somebody. Further, prosecutors said, Gillom told those in the Kmart that whoever didn’t want to die should leave the store.

In addition, prosecutors said, Gillom pointed the gun at two people in the store.

Gillom left the store and was arrested after pursuit by Leavenworth Police.

Gillom’s attorney, Debra Snider, told Judge Gunnar Sundby that Gillom disputed pointing the gun at anyone. But Sundby ruled Gillom, by holding a gun and making the statements he did, met the elements for aggravated assault.

At Wednesday’s hearing, Assistant County Attorney Michael Jones said that because a firearm was used in the commission of a person felony, there was a presumption of prison time for Gillom.